Eastern Arizona head coach Angelica de Paulo named DI Coach of the Year

Charlotte, NC: After leading Eastern Arizona to its first women's basketball national championship, Angelica de Paulo has been named the 2026 NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.

"Being named National Coach of the Year is well deserved and truly an honor. What sets Coach de Paulo apart is that her impact goes far beyond the court. She is a remarkable leader who genuinely cares for all her student-athletes, guiding them not only as competitors but as young women preparing for their futures. Her influence is reflected in the culture she builds every day—one rooted in resilience, accountability, and hard work. That culture has not only elevated our program but has also made a lasting impact across our campus and community," said Eastern Arizona College Athletic Director Paul Demuth.

De Paulo has been around the junior college level as both a player and a coach. In 2015, de Paulo was named a NJCAA First-Team All-America selection and WJCAC Region 5 Player of the Year while playing at New Mexico Junior College. As a coach, de Paulo has been at the helm of EAC since 2022. Over that span, the Gila Monsters have had an overall record of 120-16, three total semifinal appearances at the NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Championship Tournament, and their first national title in 2026.

This season's Gila Monsters earned the No. 1 overall ranking during the season and finished with a 33-2 record. De Paulo's team was known all season as physical and among the best defensive teams in the country, and they proved it, allowing opposing teams to score only 47.9 points per game (second-best in the nation).

A loss in the West District Championship to Arizona Western put the team's fate in the hands of the committee, and they were selected as one of eight at-large selections into the 24-team field, receiving the No. 2 overall seed. They would defeat Southwestern Illinois, Southern Idaho (a team that gave the Gila Monsters one of its losses this season), and Trinity Valley to reach the national championship game against De Paulo's alma mater, New Mexico JC. 

In the championship game, they held a strong Thunderbird offense to just 51 points and won the championship 57-51, its first in school history. The Gila Monsters held two teams to under 37 points in games throughout the national tournament. Angelica de Paulo was named the Coach of the Tournament, with two players being named to the All-Tournament Team, and star guard Esmeralda Enriquez being named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player.

"Leading our team to its first national championship is a historic achievement and a testament to her vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment. Eastern Arizona College is extremely proud of the way Coach de Paulo represents our program, our institution, and the student/athletes she inspires every day," Demuth said.